|
Articles
Caring for Your Jewelry Caring for Jewelry
You’ve made the plunge and bought some lovely jewelry (hopefully from me!). I am thrilled and I want you to enjoy that jewelry for a long time to come.
The safest way to care for your new purchase is to seal it up in a ziplock bag and put it in a drawer (I’m only kidding, a little). Wearing the jewelry should be something that brings you happiness and joy. The range of materials in jewelry is wide in scope and you can find much useful information searching the Internet. This article focuses on jewelry made with sterling silver, pearls, and handmade glass beads.
My handmade Joolz are generally sturdy and extremely well-crafted. However, some of your daily tasks and interaction with common household products can either damage the piece or shorten it’s life. For instance, chemicals found in everyday items like cosmetics, hair products, lotions, and perfumes can damage the luster of pearls and the finish of your sterling silver. Exposure to chemicals, such as household cleaners and the chlorine in swimming pools, can also damage and discolor sterling silver and may harm some colored gemstones. Stepping into the area of “things we can’t control,” the sulfides in the air will cause silver to darken, and the more humid your climate, the faster your sterling will tarnish.
Just knowing some simple steps for caring for your jewelry can make all the difference. You’ll be wearing it for years to come!
Caring for Pearls
The pearls most of us wear today are cultured pearls—manmade. Freshwater pearls are used in many of my pieces and care is taken to choose quality pearls with a good coating of nacre, the patina that gives pearls their unique appearance.
The depth of the nacre coating is dependent on many factors, but generally speaking as nacre thickness increases, so does the quality and durability of the pearl. That said, even cultured pearls with thicker coatings are more fragile than many other gemstones. Keeping them in good condition is critical. Here are some tips:
Ø Put your pearl jewelry on after you've applied your makeup and perfume.
Ø Remove pearl rings before you apply hand and body creams.
Ø Try to wipe your pearls with a soft, lint-free cloth after you take them off. (The cloth can be dampened with water or it can be dry. If damp, be sure to let the pearls air dry before you put them away.
Ø You can clean dirty pearls with a mild soap and water solution (try Ivory flakes).
Ø Never clean your pearls with solutions that contain ammonia or harsh detergents.
Ø Experts recommend against putting pearl jewelry in an ultrasonic cleaner.
Ø Be careful not to use abrasive cleaners or rub pearls with an abrasive cloth. You could wear away the nacre coating.
Cleaning Silver
Sterling silver and fine silver are great metals for many jewelry items. It’s certainly more reasonably priced than gold! However, the one complaint about sterling silver is that it tarnishes. That’s true, and short of tucking your silver pieces away in a baggie, it’s a fact of life. But careful cleaning can reduce the tarnish and preserve your piece.
There are many methods of cleaning sterling silver jewelry. Some are ammonia-based and require extra care and safety. Do your research and use common sense if you go that route.
About.com has a recipe and instructions for a cleaning solution. Rather than repeat it here, we’ve got the link.
Another way to deal with tarnish removal is with a good quality silver polishing cloth. Many come with two different cloths: one for cleaning off the tarnish and one for buffing to bring out the luster. You can also use a silver jewelry cleaning solution such as Revitalizing Silver Jewelry Cleaner (www.connoisseurs.com) made by Connoisseurs. Jewelry containing only sterling silver and glass beads can be cleaned using silver jewelry cleaner. Do not dip items containing freshwater pearls and soft gemstones (follow the label instructions). To minimize tarnish, store your sterling silver pieces in an airtight container such as a zip bag when you are not wearing them. Anti-tarnish strips can also help when tucked in the zip bag (you’ll need to replace them every 3-6 months.
Artisan Glass Beads
Now’s the time to remind you that all Joolz are made with handcrafted glass beads (no cheap imports!). All the beads are checked for cracks, smooth ends and general stability before they were sold or used because we either made them ourselves or purchased them from experienced, reputable artists. It goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway) that they have been properly kiln-annealed to temper the glass.
Even so, glass is not indestructible. Dropping or banging jewelry made with lampwork beads can result in breakage. Try to avoid sharp blows or sudden extreme changes in temperature. That being said, you can wear your jewelry confidently, but also need to take care to store them carefully.
If you glass beads need cleaning, you should be able to use a soft, damp cloth or old toothbrush with mild soap and water, or even a contact lens solution to restore the beautiful shine of glass.
Proper Jewelry Storage
We’ve touched on storage here and there and much of it is common sense. Try not to toss your favorite jewelry pieces into a drawer or on top of a dresser where they might fall off and break. Remember also, that sterling silver is a soft metal and can scratch. It must sound like we have stock in the ziplock baggie business, but storing each piece of jewelry separately in an airtight baggy, prevents scratches and wear, as well as reduces the effects of tarnish.
Wear your jewelry! And take a few easy steps to keep it in good condition. It will keep your favorite jewelry pieces safe for years to come. Back to Articles
|
